Freckleface

I can't stand Bondi anymore but saying it is worse than Blackpool is a bit unfair. Blackpool didn't even have any sand you could walk on the day I saw it. At least you can guarantee you will be able to walk along Bondi lol

My uncle has lived and worked all over the world but he really struggles with the weather in England. He has mostly lived in hot countries with big blue skies and I think it is the greyness and dull light even in summer as much as the cold that he finds depressing. He has also mentioned he finds the lack of space with so many people living on top of each other and in each other's business hard to take. He has persevered for around 10 years going to Greece etc for regular breaks but finds Europe just as crowded so has decided to come home for a few weeks a couple of times a year now to recharge. Thankfully he can afford to do that. Good luck with your move. It's nice that you are thinking about the things your OH might find challenging.

Bondi used to be good but does anyone other than drunk, sunburnt backpackers and tourists go there these days?

From memory you have only been in Sydney since January (?) which IMO is nowhere near enough time to have written Sydney, or anywhere else, off. I lived in Sydney for more than a decade and was still finding new pockets and interesting things I didn't know were there. However if you know it isn't for you after such a short time nobody is going to stop you leaving. In fact if you have closed your mind to discovering what a great city it can be it is probably better that you do cut your losses and move on. Good luck with your future adventures.

We must have bought there just after you because interest rates were around 17.5%. I remember a friend saying we were silly because prices were inflated and we would be caught out big time when the bubble burst. 30 years later there has been no significant downward trend and the country has been through lots of ups and downs during that time.

And can I just add to this that most of us (well all the Aussies I know) don't then draw on the tax payer for a pension or for aged residential care facilities. We provide for ourselves through super etc. I accept people want to come and live with their children but my blood runs cold when they talk about 'claiming' pensions etc as if a few years paying tax (if that) entitles them to living off the state. Sorry if this offends but it's one of the things that really pushes my buttons.

When we sell we use a conveyancer at the legal firm we use as the buyer is wearing the risks not us. When we buy we use the solicitor who specialises in property at the legal firm we use because we are wearing the risks.

The data on this website is compiled by people living in Darwin and covers a wide range of costs. http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=Australia&city=Darwin

I always laugh when I see people on here saying they can't go outside during the day in summer. I suppose they can stay inside if they want to but PIO is the only place I ever see (hear) this lol

You won't find a direct flight, bus or train but you can get there without a car using a combination of methods. Fly, train or bus to Sydney and then either: - catch the train to Narranderra and change trains to Yanco or - fly into Griffith or Wagga and bus it to Yanco or - go by bus from Sydney These sites might help http://www.railmaps.com.au/showjourneys.php http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Sydney/Yanco

But if you can't be good - don't get caught :cute:

Also, it is only an hours easy drive from Nowra to Wollongong so builders there might be an option as well.

I don't have any 'inside' info but would recommend you contact builders in the area directly. They are unlikely to advertise roles on jobs boards etc. When we lived there, there were some project home builders as well as spec builders - you should contact both types. You could also keep an eye out for any jobs advertised in the local paper (it's called the South Coast Register) but you would have to be lucky to see anything advertised. Good luck - it's a great area for families.

The reason these clauses are included is to prevent the exact scenario you describe.

We don't advertise our properties as pet friendly but have often agreed to allow pets. We have only had one couple lie about having a dog and we evicted them and had them blacklisted. It was more the fact they had lied rather than the fact they had a dog that ticked us off. How did the agent find out they had a dog? - he checks with the neighbours as part of the regular inspection process :cute:

Trying to ascertain what someone might be paid can be a bit like determining the length of a piece of string. However this link might help as you can review the median salary and salary brackets for different roles around the country. http://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Country=Australia/Salary

Pom/pommy isn't a put down but feel free to cringe when you hear it and take offence as well if you want to.

I would be surprised if anyone could employ you without the appropriate qualification even if they wanted to.

When we were growing up most people killed them if the found them in their yards or house but these days I would call a snake catcher. This link is to a really good site that provides contact details for snake catchers around the country. You select your state or territory and then the area you live so you can find the closest help. http://www.snakecatchers.com/snakeremoval/western_australia/

Looks like Great Keppel has taken a bit of a pounding.

Keep your head down @Bobj xx

I grew up over the road from the beach and until we moved to Canberra always lived close to one beach or another. Even now we go regularly. There is something about it that just gives me a sense of well being and I am happiest there regardless of the time of year or the weather.

OMG I didn't realise that. Thanks for the link.

We stick to food from Australia and New Zealand for the same reason.